San Jacinto Plaza facts for kids
San Jacinto Plaza is a special park in the middle of Downtown El Paso, Texas. It's a place where people have gathered for a long time, and it has a lot of interesting history!
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A Look Back at San Jacinto Plaza's History
The land where San Jacinto Plaza now stands has been important for many years. Back in 1827, a person named Juan Maria Ponce de Leon owned this spot. It was used for his ranch animals.
In 1881, the city of El Paso bought the land. They cleaned up the dry, sandy area and turned it into a park. In 1903, the park was officially named after the famous Battle of San Jacinto. This battle was a big moment when Texas won its independence.
A city official named J. Fisher Satterwaite helped make the park beautiful. By 1883, the park had a fence, a pond, a small gazebo, and many Chinese Elm trees. Then, something really exciting happened: three alligators were brought to live in the pond!
During the Mexican Revolution in the 1910s, some decorative cannons in the park were actually taken and used in the fighting.
The Famous Alligators of San Jacinto Plaza
The alligators quickly became the most popular attraction at the plaza. People loved to watch them, and sometimes there were as many as seven alligators in the pond! They became a big part of El Paso's culture.
People even played pranks with the alligators! Once, an alligator named Oscar was taken to Texas Western College and put in a professor's office. Another time, an alligator was found in the college swimming pool! One of the first alligators, Sally, was part of a contest where people guessed her weight.
Sadly, not all stories about the alligators were happy. In 1953, Oscar was found dead after some people hurt him. Later, two new alligators named Jack and Jill were donated to the park.
Because of people hurting the alligators, they were finally moved to the El Paso Zoo in 1965. They came back briefly in 1972 but had to be moved again in 1974 because of more problems. After that, the pond was removed for good.
Even today, many people still call the plaza "La Plaza de los Lagartos," which means "Alligator Plaza." A cool fiberglass sculpture by local artist Luis Jiménez now honors the original alligators.
Cool Features of the Plaza
Another interesting feature of the plaza was a statue called “The Boy with the Leaking Boot.” This statue was in another park for 50 years before it moved to San Jacinto Plaza. It used to be surrounded by a moat and guarded by the alligators! Today, you can see this statue at El Paso's Museum of History.
People have always gathered at the plaza for different reasons. In the 1950s, many people came to the park to listen to ministers give religious talks.
Since 1954, the plaza has been the place where El Paso officially starts its Christmas season. The city's Christmas tree is lit up there, along with thousands of colorful lights and nativity scenes. It's a big celebration with music and lots of people watching.
San Jacinto Plaza has also always been a busy place for transportation. In the early 1900s, horse-drawn carriages waited there. Later, trolleys and then city buses made stops at the plaza. It was a main spot for people to catch a ride.
San Jacinto Plaza Today
San Jacinto Plaza is still a very important part of downtown El Paso. It's a place where friends meet, people eat lunch, and everyone can relax on benches.
Like many public places, the plaza faced some challenges over the years. There were times when the fountains were dry, and the park needed some care. The city decided to make the park better, and in 2003, it was cleaned and rebuilt.
Modern Renovation of the Plaza
The plaza underwent a big renovation project that finished in April 2016. This project cost $5.3 million and was funded by the citizens of El Paso to improve the quality of life in the city.
During the renovation, workers added 10 feet of park space on all sides, along with new sidewalks and drainage. The park also received many new features, including a café, a huacha court (a type of game court), a reflecting pool, and a splash pad. New benches, landscaping, and irrigation systems were also installed to make the park more modern and enjoyable.
The renovation faced some delays, which pushed back the completion date. However, the official reopening ceremony was held on April 16, 2016, with a big celebration for everyone in El Paso.
